> I went the new engine route--remanufactured from VW, four years ago.

Well let's not get confused... remanufactured is not a new engine.

Actually, I don't remember the details but some posted the industry(?)
definitions for the definitions/labels of remanufactured and rebuilt a year
or two ago and I seem to remember that term remanufactured was surprizingly
deceptive in that it was a lesser standard than rebuilt... I think... but
could be wrong.... but it's definately not new.

In addition, I asked my mechanic about remanufactured and he said there is
as much problem with them as there is with a good quality rebuilt...
personally, I dunno.

Bill

After
> 75,000 miles and reading lots of stories on this list I can say I'm glad I
> did.  It was expensive--around $3600 including the install, but over the
> long haul I can't help but think it was the cheaper and less troublesome
way
> to go.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Donald Baxter in Iowa City
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Don Sachs" <donsachs@TELUS.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 5:31 PM
> Subject: 1990 waterboxer heads - a popular topic....
>
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > After 240,000 km (150,000 miles for the metricly challenged :-) ), I
have
> > seen the first coolant drip from one of the heads on my 1990 Westalia.
No
> > other problems, runs great, only drips slightly when cold.  I know the
> worst
> > is coming.  Thought I would get a few opinions as to a reasonable course
> of
> > action.  My oil consumption is very slight, I change it about every
> 5,000 -
> > 6,000 km and use about 1/2 - 3/4 litre between changes.  I have heard
new
> > engines aren't much better.  So I thought we'd park the van as usual
> around
> > Dec. 1 when the snow gets deep on our long driveway and do the job in
the
> > spring just after breakup (of my driveway).  The cost of new heads here
in
> > Canada is about $590 each for the AMC ones - plus you gotta buy the
gasket
> > kits.  That is just about the same as the US cost if you do the currency
> > conversion.  While I have done mucho auto work in the past I now have
two
> > small children and I could never find the time to do a major project
> anymore
> > so I will pay my local - and very trusty - independent VW mechanic for
> > labour.  My options are to:
> >
> > 1.   Replace just one head - the cheapest, but hey, if you are draining
> the
> > cooling system and the heads are the same age, how long 'til the other
one
> > goes...(cost is about $1,100 - $1,200).
> > 2.  Replace both heads and pray that the cylinders and bottom end hold
up
> > for at least another 60,000 km or so (2-3 years for us).... they appear
to
> > be fine now given the good power, oil pressure, and fairly low oil
> > consumption. (cost is about $1900 or so if no other problems
discovered..)
> >
> > 3.  Bite the bullet and do the whole engine, bottom end and everything
and
> > be relatively trouble free for 5 years or so.  I can get a really good
> > complete rebuilt one for $3,000 plus about $500 labour to re and re.  Or
> my
> > mechanic says he can completely rebuild mine for about $3,500 also.  We
> are
> > talking new everything here.  He says it is my call and that putting new
> > heads on my current engine might well get me another 60 - 80,000 km
before
> > the major engine problems set in.  Or, he says about 1 in 10 he has
tried
> to
> > put heads on have the cylinders stuck and screwed up.
> >
> > Soooooo, given all the waterboxer owners out there - and all you
mechanics
> > on the list....  I would like to hear the various opinions.  I don't
know
> > how lucky I feel, but I am inclined to save cash now and just do both
> heads
> > unless I miraculously run into more income over the winter and hope to
get
> > another couple or three years
> > out of the bottom end.  The body and paint are immaculate so I am
keeping
> > the van long-term.  How long have your engines gone before a major
rebuild
> > was required?  All opinions will be considered!
> >
> > thanks,
> > don
>